In reply to Post #41i'm on this Thursday for 3 nights mate so will let you know. i have been speaking to one of the bailiffs and there is no going bait and he has advised fish for a bite and dont heavy on the bait unless the fish are on it. bating pole is a big advantage for some of the swims so you can get right under the trees and overhanging bushes.

In reply to Post #38McDonald's is near there (just off junction 12). There's a burger van or two down the a4 from Newbury can't think of any others off the top of my head. However Mortimer cafe is very good and some local take always in tilehurst deliver to that area (well they did when I used to fish Pingewood).

In reply to Post #33No Sally's cafe is shut now, but there is a good cafe in Mortimer.

Fished a 72 over the weekend, and it fished hard. Nothing came out for almost 24 hours, but we ended up with 6 carp to 24lb14, and a 8lb5 tench. It seemed to get better over time.

My advice would be to spread round the lake. They tend to just head for any area where there is no pressure. It's fairly weedy in places and peg 1/2 you can't get to the snags. But the weed does come away easily, so it's worth taking a small weed rake, just in case you want to clear a bit.

Even though it was hard going, i enjoyed the challenge, and would go back again.

In reply to Post #27I think I know that lake you refer to-"it looks the dogs but think of the noise though. I once fished a 1.5 Acre lake in someones back garden that had large koi and mirrors in. Only thing was though,they were trying to set me up with their ex daughter in law who lived on the property. Never went back.